"Confidence comes from proven success." - Bill Parcells
We help build players along many dimensions - athleticism, skill, psychology, emotional control, and spirituality (possibly higher order and definitely team). What we say and how we say it can impact a player forever.
We must help a player determine "how she plays." I don't think a player sets out to be a relentless gunner who occasionally passes and pays lip service to defense. But if she gets rewarded (playing time, compliments) for scoring and indifference about other aspects of her game, why should she change?
I believe Brett Ledbetter's "character first" approach has meaning. When "this is who I am" is central (committed, disciplined, motivated, sacrificing, selfless) underlies "how I play", the player will probably outwork her competition and grow her all-around game.
The work lifts skills which gradually increases confidence. Tiger Woods used to conclude every practice by making a hundred consecutive eight-foot putts. One season on the PGA Tour, he did not miss a single putt inside of four feet. He combined a high skill level with an almost invincible confidence.
I've discussed Amy Cuddy's work on the role of body positioning on hormone levels, confidence, and performance. It makes teleological sense that we would have integrated physical, mental, and hormonal performance.
How you look and take care of business affects performance. Military bearing and inspections have a role in maintaining order and discipline. Exercise releases endorphins, hormones that help suppress pain.
In Kingsman, Eggsy (right) transforms along the lines of Eddie Murphy in Trading Places, Bridget Fonda in The Point of No Return, or Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. To transform, you need a target or 'end state', and coaches, mentors, and modeling have vital facilitating roles.
We constantly engage in self-talk. Our inner voice (subconscious) helps guide our conscious actions. As coaches, we can help players develop a more productive and powerful inner voice. We can "sell" our players a vision where we will rally, dominate, or simply outlast our opponent. In one hard-fought game this season, we trailed early but during every stoppage I emphasize the prizefight analogy. "We will keep punching the body and near the end, their hands will come down, and we will knock them out." The team believed that and we pulled away at the end.
Construct a powerful narrative that players can embrace to their advantage. Why have it any other way?